In or out, people: 21st CD


By albany layman, Section Diaries
Posted on Sat Feb 09, 2008 at 08:43:38 AM EST

For some time now, the coverage of the race to replace the retiring McNulty as congresscritter for the 21st has been like a game of gossip.  So-and-so is going to run.  So-and-so is not going to run.  The list of potential candidates was long.  That is starting to change, as we now have two announced candidates for the seat on the Dem side.

From The Hill:

Clinton Regional Director Tracey Brooks left her job this week and announced her candidacy on her website Thursday morning, becoming just the second Democrat in the race. All eyes now turn to Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton and state Energy Research and Development Authority President Paul Tonko, two well-known local figures who are weighing their options.

While other open-seat races have filled within days of retirement announcements, it has been more than three months since McNulty announced he would not run again. The only other candidate to date in the Democratic race, Albany County legislator Phil Steck, joined in mid-December.

Even in that clip, we get names of potential candidates.  It seems safe to say that Steck and Brooks will not be the only candidates, but to me, it is a pointless exercise to predict which of those potential candidates will actually announce.

No word yet on the rumors that Al Newman will be entering the race.  If he does, his platform would likely be crankiness and explaining why most policies and programs suck.

For your reading enjoyment, I was going to provide links to Steck's and Brooks' web sites.  I can't find one for Steck.  If he has one and if you know the address, please post it in the comments.    Brooks' web site is here.

(Disclosure: Tracey Brooks is an old friend of mine.  Please note that this does not mean I am endorsing her, or even that I am voting for her.  If that changes, I'll disclose that too.)

Going forward, I will post on other announced candidates, and on the policies of the candidates.  Please commence with idle speculations, criticisms, etc.

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In or out, people: 21st CD | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 hidden)
Steck (none / 0) (#1)
by albany layman on Sat Feb 09, 2008 at 08:49:58 AM EST
As I said, I could not find a web site for Steck.  The following is from a Steck press release, edited slightly for space reasons:

Endorsements:

Former State Senator Howard Nolan; Assemblyman Bob Reilly; Bethlehem Town Supervisor Jack Cunningham; Colonie Town Supervisor Paula Mahan; Watervlet Mayor Mike Manning; New Scotland Supervisor Tom Dolan; Menands Mayor Tom Coates; Albany County Legislator Tom Cotrofeld; Albany County Legislator Dave Mayo; Albany County Legislator Pat Timmins; Albany County Legislator Ryan Horstmyer; Albany County Legislator Wanda Willingham; Albany County Legislator Dan McCoy; Albany County Legislator Doug Bullock; Albany County Legislator Lucille McKnight; Albany City Councilman Dominick Calsolaro; Albany City Councilwoman Carolyn McLaughlin; Albany City Councilman John Rosenzweig; Albany City Councilman Jim Sano; Bethlehem Councilman Mark Hennessey; Colonie Councilwoman Nancy Hernandez; Colonie Councilman Bob Becker; Colonie Councilman Bill Carl; Menands Trustee Tim Lane; Menands Trustee Ron Miller; Bethlehem Democratic Chairman Matthew Clyne; New Scotland Democratic Chairman Mike Mackey; Guilderland First Vice Chairman Dennis Feeney; Coeymans Democratic Chairman Chris Pennock

Policies:

an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and will fight against the Bush Administration's failed policies there.  He will also continue to fight for working families -- for a single-payer universal health care system to make quality care affordable; for making college more affordable for our young people; for preserving Social Security and for protecting Medicare.  And, he will work to bring more jobs and more federal dollars to the Capital Region to stimulate our regional economy.
Phil Steck (none / 0) (#2)
by Corruptany on Sat Feb 09, 2008 at 10:14:20 AM EST
I like Phil Steck most out of anyone I have heard running for this open seat. I have always disliked McNulty mostly because in my eyes, he is a Republican. Look at his voting record, he has one of the more conservative records in Congress. He only started changing his tune once the war in Iraq became a quagmire.

I don't mean to disrepect Tracey Brooks, but she doesn't have the experience for this seat. She is a good politician, I give her credit for that. I am sure that she learned the art of spinning under Clinton. I am also not to kean on the fact that she is a lobbyist. We need people who are not tainted by the system in there. That is why I wouldn't support her. I think the 21st needs a candidate who is true to their convictions and has a track record to prove so. Most of the 21st is made up of middle class and lower middle class families who are getting killed with the economy.

In my eyes, Phil Steck has always fought for these ideals. He also crafted the succesful coup in Colonie, so thats and indicator that he can win. I like Brian Stratton allot, I think he has turned Schdy around. My aunt lives in Hamilton Hill and its shocking how much that area has come. Five years ago, you wouldn't go down there because every other house was a crackhouse and there were gangs all over. Now, there hasn't been a murder in ages and people are moving in fixing up the place.

So with that said, does it mean Stratton is the best candidate for Congress. Now that I think about it, its not. Mr. Stratton would serve the interests of the Capital Region better if he did more on the state/local level. Phil Steck though seems like a guy who will be a great voice for the majority of people in this district.

[ Parent ]

Hmmm. Well that is a thought (none / 0) (#3)
by alfrednewman on Sat Feb 09, 2008 at 10:19:01 AM EST
Maybe it would be fun!

I shall go meet with a potential campaign manager and discuss this.
"What? Me worry? " "whatmeworry.alfred@gmail.com"

Remember our old friend Warren Redlich... (none / 0) (#4)
by Jim Travers on Sat Feb 09, 2008 at 03:13:16 PM EST
He's out. Having too much fun in Giddyland, he said.

The Game of Gossip: Our Candidates Chosen For Us? (none / 0) (#5)
by Soundpolitic on Sun Feb 10, 2008 at 10:17:57 AM EST
This is an excellent point.  And it brought to my mind some thought about just who is responsible for these Congressional runs.

Phillip Steck filed papers with the Board of Elections in December of 2007.  Or at least he filed them early enough for the Altamont Enterprise to report on his candidacy in their January 3, 2008 issue.

The Metroland McNulty "obituary" cover story made no mention of Phillip Steck.  It was published with a Jan. 17 date...

A search for "Steck, Congress" at timesunion.com reveals no mention of his candidacy until the February 4, 2008 article.  And they don't mention his name until six paragraphs down, after talking about how Susan Savage isn't running and first speculating on the big guys...Stratton and Tonko.

So my question is this:  who makes the decision to run for Congress?  Because it looks to me like Phillip Steck honestly saw a chance to do some good on his own, and the Times Union sees a chance to be annointing candidates.  They did, after all, report Clintonite Brooks's entry into the race within 48 hours.  Why the difference?

Gossip?  Nah.  Mainstream media gatekeepers?  Yep.

TU and Steck (none / 0) (#6)
by albany layman on Sun Feb 10, 2008 at 12:27:26 PM EST
The TU had two blog posts on Dec. 18 about Steck's announcement, and an article on Dec. 20.

[ Parent ]
Thank You (none / 0) (#7)
by Soundpolitic on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 09:55:28 AM EST
Those of us with dial-up connections have a harder time digging.  And that's the point: you gotta DIG through the TU to find Steck's name.

Dig this: Stratton announces he isn't running today.  See if you can find Steck's name...I dare you.

It's quite clear, despite my small error, that the Times Union wants to annoint a candidate and take our choice away from us by favoring establishment and Clintonite candidates in their coverage.

Stratton is out (none / 0) (#8)
by albany layman on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 11:48:44 AM EST
Link

Tonko (none / 0) (#9)
by nycowboy on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 11:56:08 AM EST
I think Tracy Brook's run for Congress will fizz-out much like every other run she has had for office. Her website is laughable -- her crude pictures of tractors as illusions to the rural part of her district are offensive.

I'm impressed by Phil Steck from the time I met him, but he's not Paul Tonko. Steck is great on the issues.

Paul Tonko is a super politician, and if he gets in the race, he will get my vote. He's also the only potential candidate that sounds like they're ready to have a campaign that's going to win.

Tonko also will ensure we solidly get the western part of the district, including Amsterdam and Schoharie County.

In or out, people: 21st CD | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 hidden)
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